Measured charge supply control flow mechanism for automatic packaging machine operations



H. O. IRMSCHER MEASURED CHARGE SUPPLY CONTROL FLOW MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC PACKING MACHINE OPERATIONS Filed Nov. 16, 1949 3 Sheets-Shut 1 INVENTOR. HANS O. I RMSCHER ATTORNEY 06L 1953 H. o. IRMSCHER MEASURED CHARGE SUPPLY CONTROL no 'FOR AUTOMATIC PACKING MACHINE OPERATIONS Filed Nov. 16, 1949 5 m M 5% v. n e h ms E M w INVENTOR.

HANS O. IRMSCHEIZ A T TORNE Y 3 sheets sheet 3 a: max

06h 1953 H. o. IRMSCHER MEASURED CHARGE SUPPLY CONTROL FLOW MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC PACKING MACHINE OPERATIONS Filed Nov. 16, 1 49 H F H I @I. L -F 1/ ANH A TTOIZNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1953 OFFICE MEASURED CHARGE SUPPLY CONTROL FLOW MECHANISM .FOR AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE. OPERATIONS Hans 0. Irmscher, East Iiempstead, N. Y., as- A signor to National Tea Packing Company, Inc.,

a corporation of New York I Application November 16,1949, Serial No. 127,720

This invention relates to the manufacture of infusion packages and more particularly is directed to an improvement including a measured charge supply control flow mechanism for use in high-speed automatic packaging machine operations.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve the manufacturing of infusion packaging operations in high-speed production whichshall provide a readily incorporated improved measure charge supply control fiow mechanism in automatic packaging machines for both newly constructed and presently operating equipment, which mechanism shall comprise few and simple parts that are easily assembled and installed to operate in timed relation with the filling of the packages, which shall be reliable to constantly control measured charge supply operations for permitting uninterrupted high speed infusion package manufacture, which shall be cheap to manufacture, and which shall be eflicient and practical to a high degree in use.

The subject matter of this application is a continuation in part of my invention shown and described in Patent No. 2,490,056, granted December 6, 1949.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in. steps of the method of manufacture and features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of machine parts which will be exemplified in the method and construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing a fragmentary portion of super high-speed automatic infusion package manufacturing machine equipped with an improved measured charge supply control flow mechanism constructed to embody the invention, partly broken away to expose certain normally covered power transmission portions.

Figs. 2 and 4 are enlarged cross-sectional views taken on lines 2-2 and 4-4, respectively, in Figs. 1 and 3, respectively, Fig. 2 showing a top view of the transfer reciprocating member of said mechanism, and Fig. 4 the sliding outlet gate of said transfer member.

Fig-3 is an enlarged sectional view showing in detail portion of measured charge supplycontrol flow of the installation shown in Fig. 1 with said improved mechanism in operation, and

12 Claims. (01. 53-10) Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 in Fig.4, and also showing parts of cam actuating transmission of the flow control gate in dot and dash lines as phantom illustration.

Q Referring in detail to the drawing, l0 denotes generally a fragmentary portion of a fully automatic super high speed machine for the manufacture of infusion packages and incorporating a measured charge supply control fiow mechanism -20 for infusion essence contents, such as tea leaves .-'I embodying the invention.

Saidmachine ID, as seen from Figs. 1, 4 and 5, may have a web I l of heat-sealing filter, or other similar suitable material fed continuously thereto from a supply source (not shown) in the well understood manner through a former l2 which provides a longitudinally central extending fold l la forming a close bottom for packages or bag forming sections M, said former l2 arranging oppositely free longitudinally extending edge portion l lb of said web ll into an open top. The heat-sealing filter sheet material web ll when used for making infusion packages such as tea balls may be of any suitable foraminous construction,fo r example, filter paper of high wet strength treated or coated on one surface thereof with a dry thermo-setting plastic lamina or coated film surface. The filter sheet material forming web ll in passing through former l2 has the coated surface or lamina folded web ll positioned to form the interior surfaces of the tea balls, so that, border edge joint seams may be pressure heat-sealed on-placing said coated surface in a face to face relation and applying pressure and heat at fusion temperature by suitable heating means H in the well understood manner.

The web ll with fold Ila, as it leaves former l2 isgripped transversely the length thereof between continuously moving pairs of uniformly closely spaced pincer jaws l3 of machine ID, the jaws l3 of each pair as shown in Fig. 5, being mounted for movement towards and away from each other on spaced apart pivots l3a which are carried by spring actuated linked members l3b of an endless chain I30. Said jaws l3 are controlled for effective opening and closing by suitable camming action of rollers l 3d riding on rails -l3e;- The jaws, l3 may be made U-shaped and grip the folded strip web I I transversely the length thereof to sectionalize the latter into successively moving empty bag forming sections M, each extending between U -shaped portions of the jaws l3 and leaving top edges llb of said sections-M open and projecting there-above as is clear from'Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

gChain: l3c may be continuously driven from a suitable gearing and power transmission shaft l4 which operates machine l and advances the jaws 13 with the folded web H to provide successive constantly advancing bag forming sections M.

While it is contemplated in practicing the in- Vention to incorporate said mechanism 20 in any type of high-speed automatic: infusion package manufacturing equipment of new construction or those presently operating, as here shown, machine l0 so far described is a super high-speed automatic infusion package manufacturing. machine constructed to operate like that. fully'showni in detail and described in my patent No. 2,475,611 granted on July 12, 1949 for an Infusion Package, Manufacture.

In my said patented manufacture, the business ends of said U-shaped jaws I3 firmly grip the folded web I I temporarily about each of the lower or outlet ends of spaced spouts or funnels iii in serted within the folded web I l as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. Thus said successive bag forming sections M which continuously advancewith the jaws I3, are each partially filled with a measured quantity of infusion or essence products, namely, tea leaves T, which during part .of advancing movement of said sections M pass down in timed relation through top openings 1 ibof said section M from a suitable measured charge dispenser Hrf, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. It is by means of a series of said. spouts or'funnelsl6 mounted for movement part way along the path of movement of the jaws l3rwith said bag. sections M, and by having, funnels i6 also constructed and actuated for movement in timed relation to be extended down into and then retracted by an upward movement from the interior of each of said sections M through said top opening l- [b thereof that said bag section filling operation is accomplished.

As seen in Fig. 5, said spouts or funnels 16 may be carried by sliding link connections Ila. of an endless drive chain l1, and. are guided by suitable depressing and raising stationary cams. These cams maybe formed on horizontally extending spaced bars Nb each having a lowerguide rail portion He and one of said bars [-1 having an upper guide railportion lld which control the elevation of a pair of' rollers lEb carried by spouts l6.

Thus as bag sections M are being continuously formed of the web If and take a position corresponding to the section line -5- in'Fig. 3, cam rail portions I10 and H :2 fully depress or lower the outlet end 16d of some of the spouts [6 be-- tween upfolded portions of the web H. Meanwhile the upper ends or mouths We of the spouts l6 have also been lowered under mechanism 20 in position for receiving supplies of uniform quantities or tea charges T therefrom to partially fill bag sections M in the manner hereinafter described.

After the spouts l6 are entered into the bag sections M while the latter constantly advance and charge '1 is delivered thereto by spouts t6, the latter are raised; that is, retracted free from the bag top openings Hb while traveling continuously away from path of movement of the filled bag sections, now denoted as-M'l', as is clear from Figs. 1', 3 and 5.

Thereafter machine '0 operates on said partially filled sections Ml, to heat seal top'openings and the transverselyextending side closures between joining bag section Ml by suitable means, such as electric heater H, to form permanent top and side edge joint seam closures after which the tea balls are completely finished all the 4 manner fully described and shown in my said Patent No. 2,475,617.

Dispenser 15 may be of any well understood construction, and when used for the purposes here described and shown may be like that fully described .andtshown in my said Patent No. 2349:1056 granted December 6, 1949-, for Measuring Device Using a Rotating Trap Chamber Having a Varying Peripheral Speed.

"In operating super high speed automatic intusiozr. package manufacturing machines, such as .machine, 10",. at a: rate in quantity production of 200 or more completely filled packages per minute, and particularly when manufacturing such infusion pacl'cages in multiple, that is, com leting a plurality oi such infusion packages simultaneously, it is necessary that dispenser l5, or the like, which supplied measured quantities of charges or tea T, to such packaging machines, simultaneously provide a plurality of identical measured charges through suitable independent chutes 15m, from suitable bulk supply source, in the manner for example as described in my said Patent Number 2,490,656, predetermined measuredquantityof such charges being controlled through setting of'manual regulator hand knob 'Whem as heretofore, such measured charges were delivered directly from chutes 15a in machines not incorporating mechanism 20, through spouts or funnels IE to the empty bag forming sections M, or the like, thereunder, irregularities of operation often occurs, that is, proper uniform charge filling for said bag sections M have not been found entirely reliable to turn out commercially desirable finished filled packages at top production speed.

The cause of such irregularities may be attributed to inherent-operating characteristics of the dispenser which must necessarily operate to uniformly dump and deliver successive charges through a multiple of separate chute l5a, there being present an appreciable dillerence in dribbling eliect of the several flowing streams of tea T. Mechanismfl is here provided to eliminate such possible undesirable irregularities in operation, and also to speed up output production, that is, utilize and change the flow cycle for greater efliciency by controlling the measured charge supplied. Said mechanism 211 to that end is interposed in the path of flow between lower ends of dispenser chute I: and the top inlet ends I of funnels It in the manner and by the method therei-nafter described and shown.

As seen from Figs. 1 and 5, funnels IE which are mounted tomove in uniform spaced relation on said slide connections lI-a linked in horizontally extending endless drive chain I! to pass directly over the path of continuously advancing moving sections M, and Mt, said linked slide connections (Ta being provided with a slide shoe He supported on a suitable aligning guideway H1 formed in one of said bars [Tb which serves as a depending bracket and also carries said cam guide r'afl portions Ho and lid on which funnel rollers Nib-ridefor said lowering and raising movements over or withrespect to said guideway IT), that is, for downward movement of funnels i6 toenter and for upward movement to withdraw lower funnel ends Hid from the interior of filled bag sections Mi through the top opening thereof after a measured charge has been dumped therein.

Mechanism 20 which as shown in the drawing interposed between dispenser f5 having four chutes 15a in double spaced aligned rows and funnels l6 may comprise a transfer charge carrier 2| mounted for horizontal sliding movement on track flanges Hit of said bars I'll) just below the level of lower ends of chute Ia. Said carrier 2| may be formed with recessed channelled chambers 2 M extending down from the upper or top surface 2 lb of carrier 2|, one channel chamber 2|a for aligning with each chute l5a. Said channel chambers 2 la as seen from the top surface 2|b in Fig. 2, each has an elongated top opening inlet 2|c with sloping side walls 2|d of V-shaped cross-sectional configuration terminating in circular shaped outlet openings 2|e on a lower side of carrier 2|, opposite tosaid upper surface 2|b.

A slide gate .22 is fitted for horizontal movement in said lower side of carrier 2| as is clear from Figs. 1 and 2, said gate 22 having circular shaped through-passage 22a to correspond in size and spacing with said outlet openings 2 le for registering alignment when said gate 22 is positioned to empty measured charges of tea T from chamber 2m. To retain said gate 22 in proper sliding position, carrier 2| may be provided with bottom fitted portion 2| secured in any suitable manner by countersunk screws 2| g so that riding surfaces of said portions 2| may slide on flanges llh, space edge guide pieces 2|h being secured by suitable means, such as screws to retain said carrier 2| in operative sliding alignment assembly as is clear from Figs. 1 and 5.

For sliding gate 22 automatically into efiective open and closed positions there is provided suitable means such as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 which may include the "following constructions, a lever arm 23 having a free end 23a engaging and actuating said gate 22, and being pivotally mounted on the other end 23?) thereof on a suitable fixed bearing pin 24. nects with end 25a of a crank arm25, the free end 251) of which carries a roller 250 in offset relation to lever end 23a. Said rollers 25c ride in a grooved track 26 that extends horizontally as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, said track 26 being spaced from an upright stationary post P and pivotally mounted thereon by spaced bracket bale arms 26a. For swinging said arms 26a with track 26 in timed relation to the advance movement of bag sections M and MI, suitable lever, linkages and cam, driven from power shaft l4 may be provided, and as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, one of said bracket arms 26a is actuated successively through lever 21, shaft 21a suitably supported for turning movement on bearing blocks 21b, and cam lever 210 which carries roller 21d riding on disc cam 28 that turns with cam shaft 23a driven by said shaft l4.

The practical utility of operation of machine it with mechanism 2!! and method embodying the invention will now be apparent.

While web I! is passing through former l2 and is being gripped about funnels l6 by moving jaws iii to provide empty bag forming sections M in continuously advancing precession, assuming carrier 2| of mechanism 20 is in an extreme right extended position at which time chambers 2 la. have been emptied of the measured charges of tea T therein and slide gate 22 is then fully closed, movement of said carrier 2| with the slide gate 22 to the right as seen in Fig.1, presents top opening inlets 2ic in position for replenishing each of the four chambers 2m with a measured charge of tea T being discharged from dispenser l5 through chutes l5a. This re- Lever end 23b conplenishment operation may continue to permit the flow during substantially the entire period of time While carrier 2| with the closed gate 22 moves to the other extreme left position, directional movement of the carrier 2| being indicated by the double pointed arrow in Fig. 1.

When successive groups of four of said moving bag sections M come into alignment with carrier outlet openings 2| e of mechanism the latter then having reached an extreme left extended position and just as it commences to move to the right, slide gate 22 is caused to be fully opened by being actuated in timed relation due to swing movement of lever arm 23 through the operation of said other levers, linkages cam power drives above described, so that, through-passages 22a register in alignment with said carrier outlet openings 2|e permitting dumping of the measured charges of tea T retained in carrier chambers 2|a. Said tea charges in flowing from chambers 2 la pass into funnels I6 and hence into said bag sections M.

Since both the bag sections M and carrier 2| during said dumping operation are then simultaneously advanced in the same direction and at the same speed the maximum time period of delivering the multiple charges to each bag section M is made available thereby eliminating possible spillage and irregularities in filling.

When the bag sections M are in said charge receiving position the spouts I6 have already fully entered into said bag sections M and as the filled bag sections Ml continue to advance spouts |6 which are also advancing are retracted to a position with the lower ends |6d thereof above the level of the tops lld of bag sections M I so as not to interfere with the continuation of advancing movement thereof to final completion of the manufacturing operation by machine IO.

The above described cycle of operation with the intermediate control of flow of charges of tea T by mechanism 20 between dispenser l5 and the moving empty bag sections M are repeated continuously in the operation of machine H! on successive groups of four bag sections M, the reciprocating movement of bracket stanchion -|8a which slidingly move carrier 2| being transmitted through the interconnection with thrust rod Ill.

The camming operation transmitted from the pam disc shaft28a, cam disc '28, roller 2801, cam lever 21c and shaft 21 to bracket arm 26a takes place smoothly for automatically opening and closing of gate 22.

From the above description and the drawings it is now clear that the improved method embodying the invention contemplates generally the inclusion of step or steps necessary to control the flow stream of a measured charge or plurality of charges from a dispenser so as to provide maximum time period of discharge flow from the dispenser and of delivery to the continuously advancing bag forming sections, in groups of one or more, that is, in said method for filling bags with flowing material, such as .tea T, in quantity production there is required some or all of the following steps, measuring and ,deliverying a predetermined charge or charges of said material at a uniform rate from a bulk source in a given time interval, intercepting and retaining said delivered charge or charges while moving along a given path during part of said time interval, and dumping said retained charge or charges into aligned bag recept'acl'escon stantly moving under said path during substantially the entire remaining part of said time interval.

It is thus therefore seen that there is provided an improved method of manufacture and a machine in which the objects of the invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet all conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments may be made in the above invention for use for different purposes and as various changes might be made in the embodiments andmethod above set forth, it is understood that all the above matters here set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Thus having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a machine. of the character described a mechanism comprising, an intercepting carrier for a controlling successive flowing measured charges of a product received from a dispenser for delivery to empty-bag sections advancing in a direction along one path, means for moving said carrier over said path to and fro with re spect to said direction, said carrier being advanced by said means in said direction after intercepting said charges received from the dispenser and being moved in the opposite direction during the intercepting of said charges 2. In a machine of the character described a mechanism comprising, an intercepting carrier for controlling successive flowing measured charges of a product received from a dispenser for delivery to empty bag sections advancing in one direction, means for moving said carrier whilevactuating said dispenser in timed relation with the advancing said bag sections, said means moving the carrier to and fro. with respect to said direction, and a dumping gate for said carrier for delivering said charges to said empty bag sections during the advancing of the carrier in said direction, said moving means being interconnected to close the dump gate during the carrier movement relatively reverse to said advancing direction.

3. In a machine for manufacturing packages, a mechanism comprising a movably mounted carrier interposed between a measured charge dispenser and successively moving empty bag sec tions thereunder for intercepting flowing measured charges from the dispenser to said sections, a gate for said carrier, and means actuated in timed relation with the movement of said bag sections for closing and opening said gate to alternately retain the flowing measured charges in the carrier and then to dump said charges while said bag sections are in motion, said means serving to reciprocate the carrier and to open the gate during the carrier movement in a direction in unison with the bag section movement and to close the gate during the carrier movement in a relative direction opposite to said carrier movement.

4. For a machine of the character described, means for measuring charges of filling material for infusion packages. and a transfer carrier for said measured charges mounted for reciprocating movement with respect to said means having a channelled chamber recessed from an upper surface thereof, said chamber at said upper surface formed with an opening inlet elongated in the direction of said movement, sloping side walls for said chamber from said inlet to terminate in opening outlet of smaller area than said inlet on a lower side of said carrier opposite said opening inlet, and a slide gate mounted for movement on said lower carrier side to open and close said opening outlet in timed relation with the reciprocating movement of the carrier.

5. A machine for manufacturing infusion packages, comprising means for forming empty bag sections having open tops while constantly advancing said bag sections along a path through said machine, a charge measuring dispenser arranged in spaced relation above the path of movement of said constantly advancing bag sections, a reciprocably mounted transfer carrier interposed between said dispenser and said constantly advancing bag sections, and means for discharging the measured charges from said carrier into said bag sections as the carrier moves in the direction of movement of said bag sections, and for refilling said carrier with other measured charges from said dispenser when said carrier is moved in the reverse direction of movement.

6. A machine for manufacturing infusion packages as defined in claim 5, in which said transfer carrier having channelled chambers recessed from a first side surface thereof facing said dispenser, each chamber at said surface formed with an opening inlet elongated in the direction of said movement, side walls for each chamber sloping from saidinlet to terminate in an opening outlet on a second side surface of said carrier opposite said first side surface, and a slide gate mounted for movement on said second side surface to open and close said opening outlet in timed relation with the directional movements of the discharging and refilling of said carrier.

'7. A machine for manufacturing infusion packages as defined in claim 5,'in which said means for discharging measured charges from the carrier includes vertically movable funnels which reciprocate in registering timed relation between outlets of said carrier and into and out of said bag section open tops.

8. In a machine for manufacturing infusion packages, means for forming empty bag sections with open tops while constantly advancing along a path through the machine, means for successivcly filling each bag section with a measured charge of a product through said tops while continuing said advancement of the bag sections, said filling means including a dispenser for delivering said measured charges in a required sequence and timed relation over the path of said advancing bag section tops, and a transfer carrier mounted for movement below said dispenser positioned to receive each of said delivered charges and to thereafter dump said charges in operating said filling means when the carrier is moved in the same direction as said bag section advancement path.

9. In a machine for manufacturing infusion packages as defined in claim 8, in which said transfer carrier includes a flow gate mounted for predetermined reciprocable movement to control said charge dumping and to retain said measured charges received when the carrier is moved in a reverse direction with respect to said bag section advancement path.

10. In a machine for manufacturing infusion packages from a web constantly travelling along one path of advancing movement to provide empty bag sections with open tops through each of whicha measured charge of a flowing product is delivered into successive empty bag sections, a movably mounted transfer carrier interposed over said path for intercepting each measured charge of said product prior to said delivery, and flow control means carried by said carrier for retaining each charge in the carrier before said delivery while travelling in a direction opposite said advancing movement of said bag sections and thereafter dumping each retained charge from said carrier while travelling in the same direction as said advancing movement.

11. For a machine of the character described in which empty bag sections are successively advanced along one path of movement for filling each bag section with a measured charge of a product during said advancing movement, a mechanism interposed over said path of movement of said bag sections, comprising an intercepting transfer carrier to control flowing of the measured charges prior to and during said filling, means for moving said carrier intermittently in the advancing direction of said bag sections after retaining a measured charge in the carrier, and means for releasing said measured charge for filling a bag section during said advancing direction movement of the carrier.

12. A method of the character described, comprising the steps of forming empty bag sections with open tops in continuous succession while constantly advancing along a path, supplying measured charges of a flowing product from a bulk source for filling said advancing bag sections through the open tops thereof during uniform time intervals, intercepting said measured charges being supplied while moving said charges in a direction opposite to said advancement of said bag sections, and dumping said measured charges while moving in a direction over said path and in unison with the advancement of said bag sections into said open tops.

HANS O. IRMSCI-IER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,137,128 Geyer Apr. 27, 1915 1,556,023 Peterson et al. Oct. 6, 1925 2,275,140 Goodin Mar. 3, 1942 2,490,056 Irmscher Dec. 6, 1949 

